NO GOOD TREE BEARS BAD FRUIT! ~ CookingFood.Org

“HONEY FROM THE ROCK”

Daily Reflections

Wednesday, 28^th June 2017.

Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time

Memorial of St. Irenaeus, Bishop and Martyr

Gen 15: 1-12, 17-18;

Ps 105: 1-4, 6-9;

Mt 7: 15-20

NO GOOD TREE BEARS BAD FRUIT!

Jesus said “You can tell a tree by its fruit.” He noted that good trees produce good fruit and bad trees produce bad fruit. When we buy fruits, especially oranges from the market; the only true test is to taste one, not go by appearances. Many a times we concentrate on how we look, how we present ourselves, I agree it matters, but in the long run, the true character is always the reality. We might cheat many with our appearances, but deception doesn’t last long. Today Jesus invites us to ask: what kind of fruit am I producing? And then tells us that the fruit can only be good by a life of prayer (manure), sacrifice (pruning) and detachment (pesticide) from sin and unnecessary attachments.

An evil person cannot bear good fruit. It’s important to be aware of the very simple fact that “false prophets” do exist. Some actively mislead another under the guise of doing good, others unknowingly act as a wolf in sheep’s clothing, with the intention of some form of selfish gain. A used car salesman who deceptively tells a potential car buyer that a particular car is wonderful, when the salesman actually knows the car has serious mechanical problems. His goal is the sale of the car for a selfish profit with little care about the harm done to the buyer.

When it comes to discernment, the key Jesus gives us is to look at the fruit of what someone says or does. If you sincerely see goodness as a result of certain choices, know that this is a good sign that it is good and from the Lord. If you see negative effects of certain decisions, producing bad fruit, then it is a good sign that the decision you are contemplating is not from God. Choose the good fruit and you will be choosing the will of God.

Prayer: Lord, give me the grace of discerning Your holy will in my life. Help me, especially, to see the good fruit that comes as a result of following You always. As You bear good fruit in my life, dear Lord, help me to continue down that holy path toward an abundance of every good gift. Jesus, I trust in You. Amen.